Portable collapsible shelving



A. H. PICKETT Ill PORTABLE COLLAPSIBLE SHELVING Jan. 14, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Alsron H. Pickett, III

Filed Feb. 12. 1962 ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,117,536 PURTABLE CULLAPSELE HELVWG Alston H. Pickett ill, 23 t., Montgomery, Ala. Filed Feb. 12, 1962, Ser. No. 172,414 6 Claims. (Cl. 1138-111) This invention relates to portable collapsible shelving and is more particularly concerned with a collapsible bookcase which may be manipulated into a compact as sembly suitable for carrying in a persons hand.

in the past, many folding and collapsible bookcase arrangements have been suggested. Usually such a bookcase involves an expensive array of hinges, standards and shelves, which is not readily collapsed or assembled, and, when assembled, is relatively weak and unsi htly, the spacing between the shelves being fixed and invariable. When collapsed, the prior art shelving is a loose, asymmetrical conglonieration which does not lend self well to transportation by a single person.

The present invention, which overcomes the disadvantages described above, includes a bookcase having a pair of foldable ends or standards, the upper legs of which are parallel to each other at all times. The lower legs are hinged to and alignable with the upper legs and are also foldable into an overlapped condition with respect to each other. Shelves having detents are slidably carried by the standards and, when the upper and lower legs of the standards are aligned, may be moved vertically to presel cted positions within the standards and locked in such positions. When the shelves are appropriately spaced apart, the bookcase thus provided is capable of standing upright for receiving books or the like. When it is desired to collapse the bookcase, the shelves are moved up wardly into a nested or juxtaposed condition and the lower legs of the standards are folded inwardly into their overlapped condition to form a support for the shelving, the overlapped lower legs being locked in such position for carrying.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a collapsible bookcase which is inexpensive to manufacture, durable in structure and efiicient in operation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a collapsible bookcase which will fold into a compact package which may be readily and easily carried by a person.

Another objec. of the present invention is to provide a collapsible bookcase which is readily and easily assemled into a sturdy structure for supporting books or the like or collapsed into a portable package.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a collapsible bookcase in which the shelves may be readily and easily adjusted to accommodate various size books.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a bookcase constructed in accordance with the present invention, the bookcase being in an assembled condition for receiving books or the like.

FIG. 2 is a partially broken, front elevational view of the bookcase shown in FIG. 1, the bookcasebeing in a collapsed condition ready for carrying by a person.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective view of the central portion of the top shelf of the bookcase shown in FlG. 1, the handle being extended therefrom.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the bookcase shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged partially broken, fragmentary Patented Jan. 14, 1%541- front elevational View of a detail showing the interconnection between the end of a shelf and the standard of the bookcase shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken along line 6-6 in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational View of the lower portion of one of the standards of the bookcase shown in FIG. 1, the foot therein being shown in its extended condition.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of that portion of the bookcase shown in FIG. 7, the foot thereof being in its extended condition.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken along line 99 in FIG. 4.

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of that portion of the bookcase shown in FIG. 9.

Referring now in detail to the embodiment chosen for the purpose of illustrating the present invention, it being understood that in its broader aspects the present invention is not limited to the exact details herein depicted, numeral 11 denotes generally the opposed complementary parallel standards, uprights or ends of the bookcase of the present invention. The standards 11 are divided along their upper intermediate portions to provide opposed upper portions or legs 12 and 13 and normally opposed lower portions or legs 14 and 15.

The upper ends of the upper legs 12 and 13 are joined by a fixed top shelf or lintel 16 which maintains the upper legs 12 and 13 in their spaced parallel relationship at all times. Preferably the top shelf 16 is substantially the same width as the width of the standards 11; however, if desired, the top shelf 16 may be wider so as to conform to the dimensions of the slidable shelves 219 ar ranged therebelow.

The lower ends of the upper legs 12 and 13 are hingedly secured to the upper ends of the lower legs 14 and 15 whereby the lower legs 14 and 15 may be aligned with upper legs 12 and 13, as shown in FIG. 1 or folded inwardly to overlap each other, as shown in FIG. 2. It will be observed in FIGS. 1 and 2 that the upper leg 13 is shorter than the upper leg 12 by a distance equal to the width of leg 15. Therefore, when the legs 14 and 15' are folded inwardly, the leg 15 should be folded first so as to lie above the leg 14.

Since each of standards 11 is hinged in the same manner, the following description of one of the hinge joints will sufiice. As best seen in FIGS. 9 and 10, the inner portion of standard 11 is provided with a pair of conventional piano hinges 17 and 18, the arms of which are bolted by means of bolts 19 to the inside surfaces of upper leg 13 and lower leg 15. Preferably, the hinges 17 and 18 are recessed into the upper and lower legs 13 and 15 to present a smooth, even inner surface at the junction of the two legs whereby the ends of the shelves 2% may slide thereby, when legs 13 and 15 are aligned. The hinges 17 and are also aligned transversely and spaced from each other to provide an unobstructed area there between, for purposes to be described hereinafter.

On the outer side of standard 11 is a hasp or detent 21, one element 22 of which is carried by the upper outer surface of leg 15 and the other element 23 of which is carried by the leg 13. The purpose of the hasp or detent 21 and its interengaging elements 22 and 23 is to lock the legs 13 and 15 in alignment and upon disengagement of elements 22 and 23 to permit the free pivotal movement of leg 15 inwardly, the leg 15 pivoting about its hinges 17 and 18.

Within each standard 11 is a vertically disposed track or recess which opens along the inner central surface of legs 13 and 15. The recess runs substantially the length of standard 11 and hence, in reality, forms two abutting aligned recesses, one in leg 13 and the other in leg S 15. As best seen in FIGS. and 6, the upper recess 24 in leg 13 is defined by an inner surface 25, a pair of opposed side surfaces 25 and a pair of opposed inwardly directed vertically disposed flanges 27, whereby a plurality of runners such as runner 28 are slidably retained within the recess 24.

Mounted on each runner 28 is an angle bracket having a narrow upright base 29 secured to runner 28. The base 29 rides between flanges 27 and carries an inwardly protruding support flange 311 which is bolted by means of screws 31 to the lower central surface, adjacent one end of one of the shelves'Ztl, such thatthe base Z abuts the end of shelf 20 as shown in FIG. 5.

The lower surface of flange 311 carries a detent having a barrel 32 within which is a slideable bolt 33 which is spring loaded and urged outwardly by a spring 34, seen in FIG. 5. A radially extending pin 35, which is secured by one end to bolt 33, protrudes outwardly therefrom, through a slot 132 in barrel 32, to provide a means by which the bolt 33 is actuated.

Bolt 33 is preferably rectangular in cross section and is provided with an upwardly and outwardly beveled end 133 which cooperates with any one of a plurality of horizontally disposed, vertically spaced, saw tooth serrations 36 along surface 25. It is to be noted that the horizontal portion of each serration 36 is along its lower portion so that the shelf 29 may be moved upwardly without the manual manipulation of pin 35, but will be prevented from movement downwardly by the engagement of the bevelled end of bolt 33 in a' serration 36, as shown in FIG. 5.

It will be understood that the bookcase herein described is symmetrical and "that both ends of each shelf 29 are provided with runners, brackets and detents, such as the runner, bracket and detent of numerals 2835, inclusive.

Hence, when the lower legs 14 and 15 of standards 11 are parallel to each other, as shown in FIG. 1, the shelves 29 are free to be moved upwardly and may be relocated downwardly, when the detents on their ends are disengaged. Each detent is disengaged by the movement inwardly of its pin so as to retract the bolt 32 against the compressive force of spring 34 until the end of bolt 33 is withdrawn from its serration 36.

At the lower end of the lower legs 14- and 15 are retractable feet 4% and 41, respectively. Each foot, such as foot 41, is pivotally mounted by means of a pivot pin 42, seen in FIG. 8, carried by the outer lower corner portion of leg 15. Preferably, the pin 42 is recessed into the leg 15, as shown in FIG. 8, being carried by the side walls 43 and 44 which define a foot receiving recess 45 for receiving the foot 41 when it is pivoted to a ver- 7 tical position.

For holding the foot'41 in a horizontal position, a U-shaped strap 46 is provided, the central or web portion of which is pivotally carried by the outer end portion of foot 41. The arms 47 and 48 extend upwardly and inwardly from the foot 41, when the foot is arranged horizontally. The upper ends of the arms 47 and 48 are bent outwardly to form transversely aligned pins, such as pin 49, which are urged outwardly by the arms 47 and 48. The pins, such as pin 49, are adapted to slide in opposed grooves, such as groove 51), as the foot '41 is moved from a vertical position recessed in leg 15 to a horizontal position as illustrated in FIG. 8. As the foot 41 approaches the horizontal, the pins, such as pin 49, become aligned with holes, such as hole '51, at the lower ends of the grooves, such as groove 50, and hence are urged outwardly thereinto.

When it is desired to again retract the foot, pressure is exerted on the arms 47 and dSso that the pins, such as pin 49, are simultaneously withdrawn from the holes,

space all shelves 211 apart, as shown in FIG. 1.

52 and 53 to provide a relatively wide base for standard 11. A similar pair of feet, such as foot 54 seen in FIG. 1, are provided on leg 14.

In the central portion of top shelf 16, as shown in FIG. 3, is a handle 69 normally received Within a recess 61 in top shelf 1% so that the upper surfaces of the handle 6% and shelf 16 are parallel or flush with each other. The handle 6% has a pair of transverse slots 62 and 63 at opposite end portions, the slots 62 and 63 slidably receiving respectively the webs of wire bales 64 and 65. The arms of bales 64 and 65 are pivotally mounted within the sides defining the recess 611 so as to pivot from horizontal positions, aligned with each other, to vertical positions parallel to each other, as the handle 69 is moved outwardly to its carrying position shown in FIG. 3.

It will be observed in FIG. 1 that the lower inner end portion ofleg 15 is provided with a slide bolt type latch 66 which is very similar to the detents employed at the ends of shelves 20. It will also be observed that leg 15 is substantially the same length as a shelf 20. Therefore, when leg 15 is folded, as indicated in FIG. 2, the latch 66 aligns with the recess or channel of leg 12 and may be manually extended to engage a serration, such as serration 36 thereof. Thus, leg 15 may be locked in its folded position.

The outer surface of leg 15 is provided with a pair of spaced snap type fastener elements 67 and 68 which are adapted to cooperate with the snap type fastener elements 6) and on the inner surface of leg 14. Therefore, after leg 15 has been latched in its folded position, the leg 14 may be folded to the position shown in FIG. 3, whereby the fastener elements 68 and 69 and 67 and 70 interengage to retain the leg 14 in its folded position. Thus, both legs 14 and 15 are now latched or locked in their folded condition.

In operation, the bookcase is normally transported by its handle as, the bookcase being in its collapsed or folded condition, as shown in FIG. 2. When it is desired to open or assemble the bookcase, the leg 1-4 is unlatched from leg 15 and folded downwardly until his aligned with leg 12. The lock 71, seen in FIG. 1, which is similar to lock 21, is manipulated so as to lock the legs 12 and 14 in alignment. Next, the latch 66 is manipulated so as to be disengaged from leg 12, and the leg 15 is folded downwardly and outwardly into alignment with its associated leg 13. The lock 21 is then manipulated to lock legs 13 and 15 in vertical abutting alignment. Thus, legs 14 and 15 are now arranged parallel to each other.

Next, the detents on the ends of the lowermost sliding shelf 21} are manipulated so as to retract the bolt 33 of each detent, and this lowermost'shelf 20 is moved downwardly to a selected or predetermined position between the legs 14and'15, as shown in FIG. 1. in like manner, the other shelves 211 are lowered, one by one, so as to When all bolts, such as bolt 33, have engaged appropriate serrations, such as serrations 3d, and the feet 411 and 41 are folded outwardly to these horizontal positions, the bookcase is ready to use.

When it is desired again to collapse the bookcase, the procedure is reversed, except that there is no need to withdraw the bolts, such as bolt 33. in other words, by simply urging the bottommost shelf Zll upwardly, the bolts of the detents will ride over the serrations 36 and the lowermost shelf 2% 'will engage and carry with it the next lowermost shelf 2% as it is moved upwardly. -With continued upward movement of the lowermost shelf 20, the next lowermostshelf 2%? will engage the one thereabove, etc, until all shelves have been moved into the space defined by the upper legs 12 and 13. Thereafter, the feet 4% and 4-1 are folded to their recessed positions and the legs 14- and 13 folded and latched, as before.

it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many variations may be made in the embodiments chosen for the purpose of illustrating the present invention without departing from the scope thereof as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A collapsible bookcase comprising a pair of spaced, parallel upper legs, a top shelf extending between and joining said upper legs, a plurality of slideable shelves carried between said upper legs, a pair of lower legs respectively hingedly secured to the lower ends of said upper legs, said lower legs being foldable from aligned positions with respect to said upper legs inwardly to a position beneath said shelves, lock means for locking said lower legs in their folded position, said legs being provided with tracks, runners on the ends of said shelves and received by said tracks for slidably connecting said shelves to said legs, said shelves being slidable between said lower legs when said lower legs are aligned with said upper legs, and detent means for securing said slid able shelves in selected positions along the aforesaid legs.

2. A collapsible bookcase comprising a pair of spaced, parallel upper legs, a top shelf extending between and joining the upper ends of said upper legs, a plurality of slideable shelves carried between said upper legs, a pair of lower legs respectively hingedly secured to the lower ends of said upper legs, said lower legs being foldable from aligned positions with respect to said upper legs in wardly into an overlapping position beneath said shelves, lock means for locking said lower legs in their overlapped position, said legs being provided with tracks, runners on the ends of said shelves and received by said tracks for slidably connecting said shelves to said legs, said shelves being slidable between said lower legs when said lower legs are aligned with said upper legs, detent means for securing said slideable shelves in selected positions along the aforesaid legs, and a pair of feet pivotally mounted on the ends of said lower legs for pivoting from positions adjacent said lower legs outwardly and downwardly to horizontal positions.

3. A collapsible bookcase comprising a pair of spaced, parallel upper legs, a top shelf extending between and joining the upper ends of said upper legs, one of said legs being longer than the other of said legs, a plurality of slideable shelves carried between said upper legs, a pair of lower legs respectively hingedly secured to the lower ends of said upper legs, the one of said lower legs which is connected to the shorter upper legs being approximately the same length as said slideable shelves and being foldable from a position aligned with its associated upper leg to a position beneath said shelves, the other of said lower legs being foldable from an aligned position with respect to its associated upper leg into an overlapping position beneath said one of said lower legs, latch means connected to said lower legs for latching the same in their overlapped position, lock means for locking said lower legs in their aligned positions with respect to said upper legs, said legs being provided with tracks, runners on the ends of said shelves and received by said tracks for slidably connecting said shelves to said legs, said shelves being slidable between said lower legs when said lower legs are aligned with said upper legs, detent means for securing said slideable shelves in selected positions along the aforesaid legs.

4. A collapsible bookcase comprising a pair of spaced, parallel upper legs, a top shelf extending between and joining the upper ends of said upper legs, one of said legs being longer than the other of said legs, a plurality of slideable shelves carried between said upper legs, a pair of lower legs respectively hingedly secured to the lower ends of said upper legs, the one of said lower legs which is connected to the shorter upper legs being approximately the same length as said slideable shelves and being foldable from a position aligned with its associated upper leg to a position beneath said shelves, the other of said lower legs being foldable from an aligned position with respect to its associated upper leg into an overlapping position beneath said one of said lower legs, latch means connected to said lower legs for latching the same in their overlapped position, lock means for locking said lower legs in their aligned positions with respect to said upper legs, said legs being provided with tracks, runners on the ends of said shelves and received by said tracks for slidably connecting said shelves to said legs, said shelves being slidable between said lower legs when said lower legs are aligned with said upper legs, detent means for securing said slideable shelves in selected positions along the aforesaid legs, a pair of feet pivotally mounted on the ends of said lower legs for pivoting from positions adjacent said lower legs outwardly and downwardly to horizontal positions, means for locking said feet in said horizontal positions, and a handle recessed in said top shelf and extendible outwardly therefrom by means of which said bookcase may be carried.

5. In a device of the class described, a pair of opposed parallel vertical standards, foldable legs secured to the lower ends of said standards for folding inwardly from supporting positions essentially aligned with said standards to folded positions extending inwardly of said standards, a plurality of parallel shelves disposed between said standards and movable upwardly into a nested condition and movable downwardly to a spaced apart condition, and means on said standard and on said legs for slidably receiving and retaining the ends of said shelves, said shelves being sufiiciently thin that when moved upwardly said shelves are disposed Within the confines of said standards, said means being so disposed with respect to said standards and said legs as to permit at least one of said shelves to be disposed between said legs when said legs are aligned with said standards, said one of said shelves when disposed between said legs preventing inward movement of said legs.

6. In a device of the class described, a pair of opposed parallel vertical standards, foldable legs secured to the lower ends of said standards for folding inwardly from supporting positions essentially aligned with said standards to folded position extending inwardly of said standards, a plurality of parallel shelves disposed between said standards and movable upwardly into a nested condition and movable downwardly to a spaced apart condition, means on said standard and on said legs for slidably receiving and retaining the ends of said shelves, said shelves being sufficiently thin that when moved upwardly said shelves are disposed within the confines of said standards, said means being so disposed with respect to said standards and said legs as to permit at least one of said shelves to be disposed between said legs when said legs are aligned with said standards, said one of said shelves when disposed between said legs preventing inward movement of said legs, and means carried by said legs for locking said legs in an inwardly folded condition.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 400,925 Lovering Apr. 9, 1889 445,951 Hine Feb. 3, 1891 597,186 Hunter Ian. 11, 1898 1,065,045 Hartmann June 17, 1913 1,229,645 Nesmith June 12, 1917 1,248,772 Wolke Dec. 4, 1917 2,398,693 Bureau Apr. 16, 1946 2,469,192 Bouc May 3, 1949 2,612,272 Cobbs Sept. 30, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 258,615 Germany June 22, 1912 

1. A COLLAPSIBLE BOOKCASE COMPRISING A PAIR OF SPACED, PARALLEL UPPER LEGS, A TOP SHELF EXTENDING BETWEEN AND JOINING SAID UPPER LEGS, A PLURALITY OF SLIDEABLE SHELVES CARRIED BETWEEN SAID UPPER LEGS, A PAIR OF LOWER LEGS RESPECTIVELY HINGEDLY SECURED TO THE LOWER ENDS OF SAID UPPER LEGS, SAID LOWER LEGS BEING FOLDABLE FROM ALIGNED POSITIONS WITH RESPECT TO SAID UPPER LEGS INWARDLY TO A POSITION BENEATH SAID SHELVES, LOCK MEANS FOR LOCKING SAID LOWER LEGS IN THEIR FOLDED POSITION, SAID LEGS BEING PROVIDED WITH TRACKS, RUNNERS ON THE ENDS OF SAID SHELVES AND RECEIVED BY SAID TRACKS FOR SLIDABLY CONNECTING SAID SHELVES TO SAID LEGS, SAID SHELVES BEING SLIDABLE BETWEEN SAID LOWER LEGS WHEN SAID LOWER LEGS ARE ALIGNED WITH SAID UPPER LEGS, AND DETENT MEANS FOR SECURING SAID SLIDABLE SHELVES IN SELECTED POSITIONS ALONG THE AFORESAID LEGS. 